I looked away then, back — down at the smear. I heard him sigh.

Then, “I am going to send you home now,” he said. “Saddle your horse and take provisions. Ride to a place outside Amber — any place, fairly isolated.”

“My tomb?”

He snorted and chuckled faintly.

“That will do. Go there and wait my pleasure. I have some thinking to do.”

I stood. He reached out and placed his right hand on my shoulder. The jewel was pulsing. He looked into my eyes.

“No man can have everything he wants the way that he wants it,” he said.

And there was a distancing effect, as of the power of a Trump, only working in reverse. I heard voices, then about me I saw the room I had earlier departed. Benedict, Gerard, Random and Dara were still there. I felt Dad release my shoulder. Then he was gone and I was among them once again.

“What is the story?” Random said. “We saw Dad sending you back. By the way, how did he do that?”

“I do not know,” I said. “But he confirms what Dara has told us. He gave her the signet and the message.”

“Why?” Gerard asked.

“He wanted us to learn to trust her,” I said.

Benedict rose to his feet.

“Then I will go and do as I have been bid.”

“He wants you to attack, then fall back,” Dara said. “After that, it will only be necessary to contain them.”

“For how long?”

“He said only that this will become apparent.”

Benedict gave one of his rare smiles and nodded. He managed his card case with his one hand, removed the deck, thumbed out the special Trump I had given him for the Courts.

“Good luck,” Random said.

“Yes,” Gerard agreed.

I added my wishes and watched him fade. When his rainbow afterimage had vanished I looked away and noticed that Dara was crying silently. I did not remark on it.